Free movement of persons: national long-stay visa. Initiative France

PURPOSE: to regulate the free movement of third nationals with a long-stay visa. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation 1091/2001/EC on freedom of movement with a long-stay visa. CONTENT: This Regulation seeks to lay down criteria to regulate the movement of third nationals in the EU. According to the Regulation, visas for stays exceeding three months shall be national visas issued by one of the Member States in accordance with its national law. For a period of not more than three months from their initial date of validity such visas shall be valid concurrently as uniform short-stay visas, subject to fulfilling certain criteria. Otherwise, such visas shall merely enable their holders to transit through the territories of the other Member States in order to reach the territory of the Member States which issued the visa. Moreover, visas for visits exceeeding three months shall be national visas issued by one of the Member States in accordance with its national legislation. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 07.06.2001.�